Which Bosses are Best? How do you like your boss?

How do you like your boss? Sympathetic, empowering and not too

busy, probably. They will be aware of the pressures of your job, but del-

egate responsibility where appropriate. They will be interested in your

career development. Oh, and, preferably, they will be male.

In a survey for Royal Mail special delivery, a quarter of secretaries

polled expressed a preference for a male boss. Only 7 per cent said they

would prefer a woman. The future of management may be female, but

Ms High-Flier, it seems, can expect little support from her secretary.

One should not, of course, assume that all secretaries are female, but

women still make up the overwhelming majority. So it makes uncomfort-

able reading for those who like to believe that a soft and cuddly sister-

hood exists in the previously macho office environment, where women

look out for their own. The findings also raise questions about neat pre-

dictions of a feminised future for management, where ‘womanly’ traits

such as listening skills, flexibility and a more empathetic manner will

become normal office currency.

Business psychologist John Nicholson is surprised by the survey’s

findings, asserting that ‘the qualities valued today in a successful boss are

feminine, not masculine’. He is emphatic that women make better bosses.

‘They listen more, are less status-conscious, conduct crisper meetings,

are much more effective negotiators and display greater flexibility’.

They are also considerably more common than they used to be. Ac-

cording to information group Experian, women are no longer scarce

in the boardroom – they occupy a third of the seats round the confer-

ence table. Women directors are still relatively uncommon in older age

groups, but among young directors the proportion is growing.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that a reluctance to work for a wom-

an may be more a question of management style than substance. ‘It’s

just women bosses’ attitude,’ says Martha, a PA for 25 years who has

worked predominantly for women, including a high-profile politician.

‘It’s something women have that men don’t. When they are critical they

are much more personal, whereas men sail through not taking a blind

bit of notice’.

Sonia Neill, a former secretary at Marks and Spencer, has experi-

enced power struggles between women even where there was a signifi-

cant disparity in status. ‘Women either find it awkward to give you work

or they try to assert themselves by giving you really menial tasks. Men

never do that.’

113

1. Which ideas expressed in the text do you agree with? Do you find

any of the ideas surprising?

2. What other qualities, knowledge, skills are necessary for a boss to

be a success? Define your point of view.